Finish Pinterest Project- Check!

Hello my name is Amy and I'm addicted to Pinterest. 

But who isn't. The humor section can keep boredom at bay for a long time. I'm also addicted to annoying my sister and BFF by sending them pins they probably aren't interested in. 

You know how it goes, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. Don't tell anyone, but I don't do everything I pin. Lots of the food ones, less of the DIY ones. Good intentions.

This, though, piece of cake.

Undeniably, the original is better. Possibly because mine took 10 minutes. 

Supply list: unfinished wood board ($2.99 at Hobby Lobby)

hook (that one came from TJ Maxx.)

Lantern (which you can get just about anywhere)

Spray paint in bronze and/or metallic black

To be efficient, I painted the first coat on the wood in bronze and then unloaded the groceries. Tip- use a box in your garage to save from overspray. Before the first coat was dry, I added the black metallic in a light spray. It blended nicely and looks like a lot more work. That night, while watching TV, I got to use my drill to screw the hook on, and hung it up. Seriously. 10 minutes. 

Tools of the Trade

I'm suffering through the Super Bowl waiting for funny commercials. Is it just me, or are you wondering why companies are spending that much for dullsville content. All this heart warming stuff is just plain ridiculous. This is America! We like funny! We like competition! A competition to be the funniest is America at it's finest. Blah.

Today, I bring you my list of must have tools and why I love them. 

First, my glue gun, without which I might never be tardy. I mean be in business. After going through other styles, this is the best because it can be cordless. It charges in its holster which has a drip pad. Warning: when you use it fast over a large surface, it can get clogged. If it starts to get hard to push the stick through, pull the stick out and make sure there isn't any backed up. Warning part II: the trigger will probably snap. Why do I keep buying it? I don't! Which is why I linked you to Joann's. Keep your receipt and they will take it back when it breaks. 

Get it here.

Saves your table because glue doesn't stick to it. The end.

Get it here.

Sorry, no link. They are available in the Joann's store, but not online. Saves your fingers. Best $4 you will spend. It takes a bit to get used to it. But when you do, you'll feel naked without them.

Last November I was over trying to get through two layers of burlap. I wanted something that had a little Home Improvement behind it. More power!! No go. These are in the tool department and are made to cut thin metal and leather. Burlap didn't even put up a fight. Warning: What is leather? Animal skin. They will cut you. I almost required stitches when I cut the tip of my finger. 

Get it here.

Finally, if you don't have this, you aren't a real crafter/designer/artist. You think it's not, but it's really a multi use tool. Cleans out glue guns of debris, cleans the crack of my desk for burlap shards (they will stick in your skin, you can't see them and they do hurt.), gets the paint from under my finger nail, just to name a few. Oh! And you can stab someone if they break into your house. My new office is at the back of the house. I fear intruders daily.

Get it here.

There you have it boys and girls. There are always new must haves, but I'm pretty sure those are going to stay around for quite some time. Have fun!

P.S.- I did like the Heinz commercial, Tim Tebow and the obscurity of the Bruce Willis Honda one. 

A Tale of Two Chairs

There has been a strange blank space in my living room for about 2 years. Our tree went there this year and when it came down, it was clearly my first job. I was sick of looking at that area and adored my tree. Since there is an end table next to the sectional, I didn't really want a console table or book shelf. 

Just for fun, I moved a lightweight chair there, but it bounces, and I didn't want to hit the wall and old window frame behind it. So, the search began. After not loving anything because of their size, I stumbled on the genius idea of a dining chair. That led to an upholstered dining chair. 

In a perfect world, I'd show you all kinds of chairs, but in reality, the first place I went won. World Market. At the time, the furniture was 50% off, and that is music to my cheapskate ears. 

Because honestly, $180 for a chair? That comes in a box? 

No. 

Without further ado, meet my new chair!

Get it here

So many things make this work. Because it's made to sit up straight instead of relax back, it fits wonderfully. Yes, the pattern is a little bold, but if I stick with it for two years, it will be worth it. 

Onto the next chair project (you can see it a little in the picture above).

After 7 years of not having matching chairs at our dining table, I discovered these last year. There are several choices of metal cafe chairs out there, but these are the best priced. By a lot. They are wonderful all on their own and usually they would be left alone. But why do that when this is so simple?!

I asked an Etsy shop owner, called Vinyl is Your Friend, to add a No.4 to her set of 1-3 and less than $10 and a couple days later (really fast shipping) and they were ready to add. Which if you know anything about vinyl, takes about 10 whole seconds. 

Since it's 15 degrees in the garage, thanks to this horrific winter, no power tool projects for a bit. These will have to do!

What simple and inexpensive changes are you making while stuck inside?

Pillow Talk

I feel like I've told you this before.

I adore fabric.

The way it smells, how smooth it is on the bolt, all the colors and how it can quickly invoke a whole new plan. As I write, I'm under a quilt made from bits of fabric left over from my clothes when I was a little made by my Grams. All the piles that woman has (that she says she's going to give away but won't) is a museum to her past. My personal favorite is when my mom and her sister Ellen argue over who had what. Fine, I argue about fabric my sister and I had. With my mom. 

Last year, I bought a massive green pillow to go on our couch. It was one massive mistake. Too big for me. The rest of the family liked it. Too bad for them. Needless to say, I'm in the market for new pillows. Thanks to removable forms, changing the covers is entirely too easy not to.

Here are a few contenders:

via

via

via

via

via

These are all from OnlineFabricStore.net and are printed quilting fabric. I'm going with the light weight since I change my mind a lot, I don't want to pay a lot.  All my tree skirt burlap comes from there and so far so good. Whatever I decide, I can just about promise that the woodgrain will be in my house. And how awesome is the comic?

Last week of Crock-tober

With Halloween rapidly approaching, the Main Man and I discovered we have one more thing in common. We hate it. 

I can't figure out why our kids like it either. The Girl hates talking to adults and we never let them eat the candy they worked so hard for. I know. We're the worst. The Boy is going as a ninja. He gets to take his sweet moves on the road. Pumped does not begin to describe his excitement.

For the record, I've loved Crock-tober. This is my busy season, and since adding tree skirts to the mix, it's even busier. The Crock Pot Life has been a lifesaver and I can only hope it's helped you out a little.

Menu

Roast Chicken

Potatoes, Green Beans and Ham

Corn, Bacon and Chicken Chowder

Honey Mustard Ham

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Recipes

Roast Chicken

Potatoes, green beans and ham

Put those items in your pot and let them cook all day. You can also sub cooked sausage link discs for the ham.

Corn, bacon and chicken chowder

Honey Mustard Ham

I'll probably use some applesauce in place of the juice. 

Chicken Tortilla Soup

What you'll need

Meat

Whole 3-4lb chicken

5-6lb bone in, fully cooked ham

1lb cooked chicken breast

Cooked kielbasa (which reminds me. Try it fried with cocktail sauce.)

The rest

8-10 potatoes

Can of Cream Corn

Chicken broth/stock/base for 8 cups

Ham

Onion

Half and half (or milk)

Apple juice

Brown sugar

Kidney beans, 2 cups

Taco seasoning

Green beans

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you'll add your email to my list so you can see all the wonders I write about. I have no great plan for November, so if you have one, let me know! Ornaments, and mini projects are coming soon! 

Crock-tober out.

Crock-tober Week 4

I plum forgot to post on Wednesday. And here we are. Whoops. The good news is because I didn't love the original plan, I was able to switch something to accommodate my Main Man.

What we're eating:

Crock Pot Honey Chicken with Cole Slaw

Cheesy Cowboy Casserole

Amish Lady (not)Noodles with Corn

Apple Cinnamon Pork Loin

Crock Pot Carmel 

The idea is to make a lot of Amish Lady without noodles, and add the noodles after you're done eating. Cook for an hour, and store for later. Ta-da! It's a twofer!

Honey Chicken:
http://www.tablefortwoblog.com/2012/02/21/crockpot-honey-bourbon-chicken/
and it's Cole Slaw:
http://www.afarmgirlsdabbles.com/2013/08/22/moms-sweet-onion-coleslaw-dressing-recipe/

Cheesy Cowboy Casserole:
http://www.familyfreshmeals.com/2013/08/cheesy-crockpot-cowboy-casserole.html

Amish Lady Noodles:
http://redesignaccessories.blogspot.com/2013/09/crocktober-week-1.html
Add everything but the noodles and serve it over mashed potatoes. No one will judge if they are from a box. After your family is full, add noodles until they are just covered in broth and cook for an hour or until they are soft. Refrigerate. 

Apple Cinnamon Pork Loin
Recipe found here.

Crock Pot Carmel:
Really simple, but oh so fun! Start it in the morning and your kids will be dipping apples when they get home and you win Awesome Mom award. She says you can add it to a mason jar to cook. Of course I am! I want to see it happen.
http://www.dessertnowdinnerlater.com/2013/08/crockpot-caramel.html

Go shopping!

Meat:

3-4 chicken breasts or 2-3 breasts and 4-5 thighs

1# ground beef
3# pork loin

Everything else:

Honey

Soy sauce

Ketchup

Vegetable oil

Garlic cloves

Onion

Red pepper flakes

Cornstarch

Sesame seeds

Mrs Dash or other favorite seasoning mix

Red potatoes

Cream of mushroom soup (or homemade chicken soup)

Cans of tomatoes, corn, red kidney beans

Cheddar cheese

Egg Noodles

Chicken Soup Base
Apples
Cinnamon

Sweetened condensed milk

Heavy Cream

This is the part of the show where I'd like to tell you I'm working on something fun and I can't wait to show you. I have some ideas. If only I didn't live in the world of retail and you wanted to hear about Christmas already. In the mean time, love this wreath a client commissioned.

Have a great week!

Pumpkin Extravaganza

If you know me, its zero secret that I love orange. Obsessed with it really. It started on a whim over 15 years ago, and hasn't stopped since. (I just realized that's a real long time.)

Couple that with a love of being snuggled in blankets, and with my Main Man, and you can see why Fall is my favorite.

Let's talk about three homemade pumpkin choices.

First, pie. 
One of the littlest love's favorite books has a line that says "Pie. That reminds me of something… PIE!" He asks me to make him pumpkin pie every year. Do you know buying a sugar or pie pumpkin is actually cheaper than buying it canned? Usually about $1.50 at a grocery store. To turn them into puree, it's as simple as one- cut it into quarters and get rid of the top, bottom and innards. Two- cut the quarters in half and microwave in groups of 4 for 5-6 minutes. It's done when you smash all the way through with a fork. Three- Let it cool for a bit, and peel the leathery rind off, and puree in your blender or food processor. You can freeze it or eat it (gross) or make your favorite recipe for pie. 




Second, lets make a pumpkin!

These might look fancy, but they're really simple. Two pieces of 2x6's. One is 10" the other is about 7". A quick coat of orange craft paint, and then orange glitter spray paint. It doesn't look pretty until the glitter paint dries. What you think it white, dries clear. The stems are pinecones, and I added a couple burlap leaves, some berries and leaves from a grouping at Hobby Lobby in the Fall section. Attached some ribbon and it's done! The longest part was holding the pinecones and waiting for the glue to dry! 

Last, some pumpkins for inside.

In two choices of classic fabrics or burlap. Even burlap coffee bags! All are finished in different ways. All are charming. In small (1/$8, 2/$14, 3/$20) and medium($14). These are for sale in my Etsy shop, or you can leave your email in the comments section with which ones you want and I can send you an invoice. 

Happy Fall Y'all!